Australia agree to split postponed tour of Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Cricket Australia have agreed to split their postponed tour of Pakistan into two and complete it before the teams meet in Australia in 2009, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Saturday.

The Board said a final announcement of the new arrangement would be made in next two or three days.

Australia postponed their tour to Pakistan in March because of security concerns.

But the Australians assured the Pakistan board they would play the series in the next available window in the international calendar, the Pakistan board (PCB) said.

"Australia has been very receptive and cooperative and in the next two or three days we will hopefully be able to announce the revised schedule," Shafqat Naghmi, chief operating officer of the PCB told reporters.

Naghmi said five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 game would be played first, then Australia would tour again to play three tests.

Sources in the board told Reuters that Australia were expected to tour Pakistan before the Champions Trophy in late September and again in March 2009 for the tests.